Substation message-register.



J. A. WOTTON.

SUBSTATION MESSAGE REGISTER.

APPLICATION man ocr. 15. |914.

1,162,007. l PatentedNov.30, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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James A. l/l/oon 6.9.9474. S5 ww. 9J/Wj,

J. A. WOTON.

SUBSTATION MESSAGE REGISTER.

APPIICATION FILED OCT. 15. |9|4.

1,1 62,097, Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

/n Ven/0r.'

James ,4.1/1/0/70/7.

J. A. WOTTON.

SUBSTATION MESSAGE REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.15. 1914.

1,162,007. y Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W/'ness eS.' I 'I /n Ver/for.'

James A. Woan.

mLUlsla PLANOGRAFN C0.. minimum D. c.

@NTE STATES PATENT FFTQE.

JAMES ASHLEY yVVO'ILTON, OFVMONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., .A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SUBSTATION MESSAGE-REGISTER.

To all whom t'mczy/ concern Be it known that I, JAMES ASHLEY VOT- TON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Substation Message-Registers, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to registering devices in which two independent manipulations are necessary to eect Va registration. It is particularly useful in telephone call meters, wherein mechanical manipulation of the device by a subscriber and a subsequent electrical manipulation by an operator at central office cause the registration of a call.

It has for its object the provision of a simple and improved device which is practically proof against unjust or accidental registration.y

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference characters are used throughout to designate the same parts, and in which- Figure 1 is a frontview of the mechanism taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a side view of the mechanism taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side view of the mechanism taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the armature and its associated parts; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the trip mechanism shown detached from the armature structure. Fig. 6 isa perspective view of the principal parts of the mechanism, with the housing, the coils of the electromagnet and part of the counting mechanism omitted; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 8-8 Vof Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary View showing the plunger and associated parts in their normal positions; Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the plunger depressed; Fig. 11 is a similar view showing the plunger released after depressing; Fig. 12 is a similar view showing the plunger held depressed after the magnet has operated; Fig. 13 is a similar view showing the plunger passing back to normal from the position shown in Fig. 12.

The mechanism is supported on va base plate 9 and inclosed in a cover 10 through the top of which projects a push button 11 Specification of Letters Patent. Panted NOV. 30, 1915. Application filed october 15, 1914.

Serial No. 866,782.

which is depressed by the subscriber to call the central office. Through a window 12 in the cover 10, the subscriber may observe the registration of his call on a counting mechanism 13.

The operating electromagnet, which is preferably of the polarized type, comprises a yoke-piece14 secured by screws to the base plate 9, two cores 15 surrounded by coils 16, and a permanent magnet 17 secured to the yoke-piece 14 and extending upward centrally between the two coils 16. The armature structure ismounted on a supporting plate 18 which is secured to the cores 15 by means of screws, as shown. The armature proper 19, which is adapted to be moved in opposite directions, is centrally located between the ends of cores l5 and is rendered adjustable in relation thereto on a supporting plate 20 by means of a rotatable eccentric stud 22 that engages a slot 23 in the plate and is secured to the armature 19. By turning the stud 22, the armature may be centrally adjusted between the two cores, and the plate 20 is permanently secured to the armature after having been thus adjusted by means ofy screws 24 passing through longitudinal slots 25 in the plate. The plate 2O is mounted by means of its perforated ears 26 on pivots '27 that are adjustably fixed on uprights 28, 29 of supporting plate 18; and the armature is thus allowed to be moved in opposite directions under the influence of the polarized magnet. A plate 32 which is also supported on pivots 27, by means of perforated ears 33, has its angular extensions 34 in proximity to the armature 19, and is moved thereby. This plate 32 is provided with angular projections 35 which are bent within a short distance ofthe supporting plate 18, so as to limit the movement of the armature 19 in both directions within suitable limits. Two levers 37, 38 are also supported by-means of their perforated shanks 39 on pivots 27, and by means of eXtensions 40, engage the upper surface of cores 15, and by means of indentations 42, engage the plate 32; The levers 37, 38 are normally held in this position by means 0f springs 43, one'end of which is attached to the shanks 39 and the other to the arms 44 of the plate 45 attached to supporting plate 18 (see Figs. 3 and 8). Thus it will be seen that one of these levers is moved by the tilting of the armature in one direction, and the other is moved by the tilting of the armature in the opposite direction.

This particular form of electromagnet and armature structure is well adapted for use in carrying out this invention, but it forms no part thereof, and is the subject matter of an application of Oscar F. Forsberg, Serial No. 647,039, filed August 31, 1911, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

The particular parts of the armature structure which, by their movement are directly efective-in connection with this invention, are the plate 32, which is moved by the armature 19 when the latter is tilted in either direction, and the lever 37, which is moved when the armature is tilted in one direction only. (See Figs. 2 and 8.)

The counting mechanism 13 consists of a train of geared number disks 47 and a ratchet wheel 48 on a common shaft 49, mounted in suitable bearings in uprights 50, extending from the supporting plate 18. The lever 37 operates this counting mechanism 13 by means of a pawl 52 attached thereto. The armature 19 and plate 32, when moved in one direction, elevates the lever 37 and pawl 52 which engages a tooth in ratchet wheel 48; andv when the armature returns to normal, the lever 37 under tension of its spring 43, returns pawl 52, which thus advances ratchet wheel 48 one step and actuates the counting mechanism 13. The armature 19, plate 32 and lever 37 are normally prevented from moving in this direction by means of a blocking member 54 pivotally mounted by means of ears 55 on a shaft 56, supported between the uprights 57 forming part of supporting plate 18. This blocking member 54 has a hook-like extension 58 which engages the under side o-f an extension 59 on the plate 32 when the parts are in normal position. An angular extension 64 from the blocking melnber 54 is engaged by an actuating member 62 pivotally mounted on the same shaft 56 and in the same manner as is the blocking member 54; and a spring 60 coiled around the shaft 56 holds the blocking member 54 in yielding engagement with said actuating member 62. A spring 63 also coiled around the shaft 56 tends to move the actuating member 62 in a direction in which it coperates with the blocking member 54 and moves the eX- tension 58 of the latter out of engagement with plate 32; but in the normal position of the mechanism, an arm 65 extending from the actuating member 62 is engaged by means hereafter to be described, and movement of said member under the influence of the spring 63 is prevented.

The arm 65 is held in its normal position by engagement with a holding trigger 66,v

rotatably supported on a shaft 68 mounted between bearings on the ears 69 projecting from a plate 7 O, secured to supporting plate 18 (see F ig. 5). The trigger 66 is held in normal position by means of a spring 71, one end of which is attached to an extension 72 of trigger 66, and the other to a projecv tion 73 from one of the ears 69. The arm 65 may be released from trigger 66 by the depression of a plunger 74, which is mounted in bearings 75 of plate 70, and normally held in a raised position against push button 11 by the coiled spring 6, one end of which rests against the lower bearing 75, and the other of which is fastened to the plunger itself. A pin 78 on plunger 74 is in a position in relation to the extension 72 of trigger 66, to move the trigger out of engagement with arm 65 when the plunger is depressed (see Fig. 10).

Another similar trigger 80, which may be called a blocking or emergency trigger, is also mounted on shaft 68 and located near the plunger but on the side opposite to that of the trigger 66. This trigger 8O is, unlike trigger 66, normally held out of engagement with the arm 65, by means of the pin 78 which also protrudes to this side of the plunger and is in position to engage an eX- tension 82 of trigger 80. The relation of pin 78 to the extension 82, when the plunger is depressed, is such thatthe trigger is allowed to be pulled toward the arm 65 by a spring 83. This spring 83 has one end attached to the extension 82 and the other end to a bracket 84, secured to plate 70. In case arm 65, in a manner hereinafter described, returns to normal position before the plunger is allowed to return to normal, this blocking trigger 80 will slip under the arm 65, and hold it in normal position until the plunger is fully returned to normal. On the other hand, in case the plunger returns to normal before the arm 65 is returned, the holding trigger 66 is released and at the subsequent return of the arm 65, slips into normal position.

The actuating member 62 not only serves to remove the blocking member 54 from control over the movement of the armature but also to close the contact between the two springs 90 and 91. This Contact is closed, when the actuating member 62 is tripped, by an arm 95 extending downwardly therefrom, which engages, by means of an insulating stud 93, the spring 90 and forces it against spring 91. These springs may be so connected as to complete a circuit from gro-und through the electromagnet to one side of the subscribers line, and thus establish for the central operator an electrical control over the register for the registering of the call and restoring of the apparatus to normal.

The movement of plate 32 in either direction by the armature 19 is used to restore the apparatus to normal condition. This is ac-l complished by aneXtension 98 on plate'32 provided with an insulating roller 99 which engages a bent in portion of spring 91. This roller is in such a relation to this bent in portion that when the plate 32 is tilted in either direction, said roller will receive either an upward orL downward movement, depending on which direction the plate 32 is moved, and will thus force the two springs and 91 sidewise against arm 95. This movement ris sufficient to ,restore the actuating member 62, including the arm 65, to its normal position. The raising of arm 65 allows either one of the triggers (S6 or 8O to move into position under it, thereby supporting said arm 65 regardless of whether the plunger has been returned to normal. Later, when the plate '32 carrying the roller 99 is returned to normal, the connection between the springs 90 and 91 is broken and any further electrical control over the apparatus by the operator is prevented.

The operation of the mechanismv is as follows: In initiating a call the subscriber depresses theplunger 7i to the position shown in Fig. 10, and the pin 78, by engaging the extension 72, removes the holding trigger 66 from underneath the arm 65. The operating member' 62 is thereby allowed, under tension of spring 63, to rotate and remove the blocking member 5-l from control over the plate 32, and to close a contact between the two springs 90 and A91. These springs 90 and 91 establish a circuit through the electromagnet over which the central operator is signaled, and over which she may send a current of one polarity or the other tocause the armature to be tilted in a corresponding direction, and thus eiect the registration of thel call or simply restore the mechanism to normal, as desired. Should the registration of the call be desired, the operator sends a current through the electromagnet of a polarity to cause the armature to be tilted in thevdirection in which it elevates the lever 37 4and pawl 52, which on their return movement cause the register train to be advanced one step. The manner of restoring the mechanism to normal is the same whether the armature is tilted in one direction or the other, and when it is desired that the call shall not be registered, the operator sends a current through the electromagnet to cause the armature to tilt in ythe opposite direction to that in which the lever 37 is elevated. In either case the roller 99 on plate 32 moves vthe springs 90 and 91 and arm 95 suiiiciently to rotate the actuating member 62 and elevate the arm 65 to normal position. IVhen the arm 65 is thus returned, either the holding trigted to return to normal.

the consequent actuation of armature in the i manner justdescribed will entirely restore the register to normal. If, however, the subscriber attempts lto interfere Vwith the proper operation of the register by holding the rbutton v11 depressed, the blocking trigger 89 will temporarily hold the arm 65 in its raised position, Vuntil the button is released and the holding trigger 66 is permit- It is therefore, impossible for a subscriber eitherto prevent registration of a call or to obtain two or more calls for only one registration.

IVhat is claimed is:

1. In a registering device, a counting mechnism, electromagnetic operating means therefor, means for controlling said operating means comprising a blocking member and an actuating ymember for the control of said blocking member, manually operable means normally locking said actuating member in inoperative position and adapted to release the same, and an operative connection between said operating means and said actuating member for restoring the controlling means to normal position.

2. In a registering device, a counting mechanism, an electromagnet, an armature adapted for movement in two directions under the influence of said magnet, means operated by said armature for actuating said counting mechanism when the armature is moved in one direction, a blocking device ltending to restrain said armature from movement in the direction in which it actuates the counting mechanism, an actuating member tending to withdraw said blocking device from control of said armature, and a manually operable means normally holdingk said actuating member in inoperative position and adapted to release the same.

3.. In a registering device, a counting mechanism, an electromagnet, an armature adapted for `movement in two directions under the influence of vsaid magnet, means operated by Said armature for actuating said counting mechanism when the armature is moved in one direction, a blocking device ,tending to restrain said armature from movement in the direction in which it actuates the counting mechanism, an actuating member tending to withdraw Said blocking device from control over said armature, manually operable means normally holding said actuating member in inoperative position and adapted to release the same, and

an operative connection between said armature and said actuating member for restoring said member to normal position when the armature is moved in either direction.

4L. Ina registering device, a counting mechanism, an electromagnet, an armature adapted for movement in two directions under the influence of said magnet, means operated by said armature for actuating said counting mechanism when the armature is movedV in one direction, a blocking device tending to restrain said armature from movement in the direction in which it actuates the counting mechanism, an actuating member tending to withdraw said blocking device from control over said armature, a holding trigger normally holding said actuating member in inoperative position, a manually operated member coperating with the/said trigger and adapted to hold said trigger out of engagement with said actuating member, and an operative connection between said armature and said actuating member for restoring Said member to normal position when the armature is moved in either' direction. l

In a registering device, a counting mechanism, an electromagnet, .an armature adapted for movement in two directions under the influence of said magnet, means operated by said armature for actuating said counting mechanism when the armature is moved in one direction, a blocking device tending to restrain said armature from movement in the direction in which it actuat-es the counting mechanism, an actuating member tending to withdraw said blocking device from control over said armature, a holding trigger normally holding said actuating member in inoperative position, a blocking trigger tending to hold said actuating member in inoperative position but normally ont of engagement therewith, a manually operated member coperating with said triggers normally holding the blocking trigger out of engagement with said actnat ing member and in its actuated position holding the holding trigger out of engagement with said actuating member, and an operative connection between the said armature and said actuating member for restoring said member to normal position when the armature is moved in either direction.

6. In aV registering device, a counting mechanism, and electromagnet, an armature adapted for movement in two directions under the influence of said magnet, `means operated by said armature for actuating Said counting mechanism when the armature is moved in one direction, a blocking device Copies of this patent may be obtained for tending to restrain said armature from4 said blocking trigger out of engagement with said actuating member and when in operated position to release said blockingtrigger and hold said holding trigger out of engagement with said actuating member, and an operative connection between said armature and said actuating member for restoring said member to normal position whenA the armature is moved in either direction.

7. In a registering device, a counting mechanism, an electromagnet, an armature adapted for movement in two directions under the influence of said magnet, means operated by said armature for actuating the counting mechanism when the armature is moved -in one direction, a blocking device tending to restrain said armature from movement in the direction in which it actuates the counting mechanism, a switch, an actuating member tending to operate said switch and withdraw said blocking device from control over said armature, a holding trigger normally holding said actuating member in inoperative position, a blocking trigger tending to hold said actuating member in inoperative position but normally ont of engagei'nent therewith, a plunger, a pin carried by said plunger, and cooperating with said triggers adapted when the plunger is in normal position to hold said blocking trigger out of engagement with said actuating member and when in depressed position to release said blocking trigger and hold said holding trigger out of engagement with said actuating member and an operative connection between said armature and said actuating member for' restoring said member to normal position when the armature is moved in either direction.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 13th day of October, A. D.,

19111. JAMES ASHLEY VOTTON. Witnesses: i E. EDLER, K. L. STAHL.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C, 

